Is anyone using the ATI HDTV Wonder VE for QAM? Specifically, the 5188-0178 or PS501-69003 model numbers. Someone is willing to sell me one of these, but I am not sure if they will work for QAM. The MythTV wiki http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/ATI_HDTV_Wonder says that the VE is digital only, but does that mean ATSC, QAM, or both?

Thanks for the reply! I forgot to update this thread with my findings. Shame on me! I did purchase them for $9 (shipped) a card on eBay and they work for QAM very well. Live TV stopped working, but that may have been coincidental. I have to investigate that.

I am actually using these cards for QAM on the Comcast network in Southern New Jersey.

As for the digital transition, that is a little tricky...

Although, we may see more channels become clear over the next year or so, this may only be temporary. The digital transition hinges on these new DTAs that are currently only able to decode unencrypted QAM channels. The DTA's software is supposedly upgradable just like any normal STB. Comcast plans to upgrade the software to also be able to decrypt encrypted channels. When this happens, expect to see the expanded unencrypted lineup go back to what it is now.

I am actually using these cards for QAM on the Comcast network in Southern New Jersey.

As for the digital transition, that is a little tricky...

Although, we may see more channels become clear over the next year or so, this may only be temporary. The digital transition hinges on these new DTAs that are currently only able to decode unencrypted QAM channels. The DTA's software is supposedly upgradable just like any normal STB. Comcast plans to upgrade the software to also be able to decrypt encrypted channels. When this happens, expect to see the expanded unencrypted lineup go back to what it is now.

Wow--now that was quick.

Do you go through a cable box first or are you running straight from the wall?

I'm fine dropping a $10-20 for a temporary solution... I figure, Hey, it doesn't hurt to keep the old box running for a little longer.

I just don't want to go throwing $100 around for a "might work for the next 2 months" solution.

I have two QAM tuners that use the cable straight from the wall, and one firewire (IEEE 1394) tuner via a STB. It is extremely difficult for me and my wife to get a conflict with this setup and I am only renting one STB. We record a lot of HD stuff too. The only thing that I can not record is the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc...). I could add a Hauppage 1212 for that.

Just to be clear, unencrypted QAM is essentially the same as the OTA channels. You only get the major local networks now. There are areas that are exceptions to this rule. This is important to understand.

The good thing is that most of what people record tends to be on the major networks. Even though the major networks usually only air shows once, it is less than $10 to add another QAM tuner. The cable channels tend to air their show many times and MythTV can handle the conflicts caused by having one STB.

Hi all, I have been using my KnoppMyth system for about a year now and have been very happy with it I recently added a second tuner card - ATI HDTV Wonder that I bought on eBay for $7.50 (+$7.50 shipping). However the instructions I found on the wiki and this post were not very clear to me so I am posting the steps I took to make it work for my R5.5 system.

1. Edit the file /etc/init.d/KnoppMyth-tv as follows:

Code:

nano /etc/init.d/KnoppMyth-tv

In this file uncomment the line for cx88:before:

Code:

#modprobe cx88-dvb

after:

Code:

modprobe cx88-dvb

2. Next create a new file /etc/modprobe.d/atiwonder

Code:

nano /etc/modprobe.d/atiwonder

and add the following line

Code:

options cx88xx card=34

After a reboot the system recognized the card and I was able to set it up using mythtv-setup.

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